Balloon catheter-stent structure combination

Abstract

The invention relates to a combination of a balloon catheter (1), through which a lumen extends in the longitudinal direction, with a balloon (2) being arranged in the distal section of the balloon catheter (1), said balloon being expandable by applying pressure with a fluid conducted through the lumen, and a stent structure (5), which comprises of braided wires or interconnected struts (7), wherein the stent structure (5) can be mounted on the balloon (2) of the balloon catheter (1) and can be brought into an expanded form by expansion of the balloon (2), wherein the stent structure (5) is elastic and designed such that, in the absence of external forces acting on the stent structure (5), it assumes a reduced-diameter form in which it is firmly seated on the balloon (2). With the help of the combination according to the invention, particularly persistent and hard-to-treat stenoses can be effectively dilated.

1 . Combination comprising
 a balloon catheter, through which a lumen extends in the longitudinal direction, with a balloon being arranged in the distal section of the balloon catheter, which can be expanded by the application of pressure using a fluid conducted through the lumen, and   a stent structure which is made up of wires that are braided or of struts that are interconnected, it being possible for the stent structure to be applied to the balloon of the balloon catheter and, by the balloon expanding, to be brought into an expanded form, wherein   the stent structure is elastic and is designed such that, without external forces acting on the stent structure, it assumes a diameter-reduced shape in which it is firmly seated on the balloon.   
     
     
         2 . Combination according to  claim 1 , wherein the stent structure is at least partially composed of a shape memory material. 
     
     
         3 . Combination according to  claim 2 , wherein the stent structure is at least partially composed of a nickel-titanium or nickel-titanium-copper alloy. 
     
     
         4 . Combination according to  claim 1 , wherein the stent structure is at least partially composed of a cobalt-chromium or cobalt-chromium-nickel alloy. 
     
     
         5 . Combination according to  claim 1 , wherein the wires or struts of the stent structure have a round or oval cross-section. 
     
     
         6 . Combination according to  claim 1 , wherein the wires or struts of the stent structure have an edge pointing radially outwards. 
     
     
         7 . Combination according to  claim 1 , wherein the wires or struts of the stent structure have a triangular cross-section. 
     
     
         8 . Combination according to  claim 1 , wherein one end of the stent structure is fixed to the balloon catheter. 
     
     
         9 . Combination according to  claim 8 , wherein the proximal end of the stent structure is fixed to the balloon catheter. 
     
     
         10 . Combination according to  claim 1 , wherein the outer diameter of the stent structure in the expanded form is two to four times as large as in the diameter-reduced form. 
     
     
         11 . Combination according to  claim 1 , wherein the stent structure in the diameter-reduced form has an outer diameter ranging between 0.8 and 1.5 mm. 
     
     
         12 . Combination according to  claim 11 , wherein the stent structure in the diameter-reduced form has an outer diameter of 0.8 to 0.9 mm. 
     
     
         13 . Combination according to  claim 1 , wherein the stent structure in the expanded form has an outer diameter ranging between 2 and 6 mm. 
     
     
         14 . Combination according to  claim 13 , wherein the stent structure in the expanded form has an outer diameter of 2 to 3 mm.